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Company increases algae production for nutritional pharmaceuticals

Published: June 26, 2013

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue Research Park affiliate company that developed a strain of algae that grows yearlong in the Midwest has increased production to a mid-scale level of 20 liters in six days.

Mustapha Benmoussa, founder and CEO of Atlantic Green Technology Inc., said the algae can be harvested for several uses, and end users range from private individuals to industry and government.

"Nutraceuticals, or nutritional pharmaceuticals, are extracted from harvested algae and could provide important health benefits like antioxidant activity and the prevention of heart disease," said Benmoussa, who also is a visiting scholar in Purdue University'sDepartment of Food Sciencein theCollege of Agriculture. "The harvested algae also could be another option to develop national independence from imported foreign oil and keep the environment cleaner."

Benmoussa said the company's next goal is to increase production to reach larger quantities, up to 500 liters in six days, and then commercial production.

"AGT algae can grow in cloudy conditions in the north, sunny days in the south and even darkness by changing their nutrients," he said. "These varieties, our technology and our lower cost of production set us apart from other firms producing algae."

About Atlantic Green Technology Inc.

Atlantic Green Technology activity is focused on research and product development in pharmaceutical and biofuel fields.

About Purdue Research Park

ThePurdue Research Park, with four locations across Indiana, has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The parks are home to about 200 companies that employ 4,000 people and are located in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.

Mustapha Benmoussa, founder and CEO of Atlantic Green Technology Inc., displays the dried and liquid algae produced by strains developed by the company. Atlantic Green Technology has increased production of the algae to 20 liters in six days, and has set a goal of 500 liters in six days. (Purdue Research Park photo)